Radio hitches threaten George Bass safety

An on-going safety problem has threatened the running of the George Bass Surfboat Marathon on the New South Wales far south coast.

Surf club crews from throughout Australia are this week rowing 190km from Batemans Bay to Eden.

Race organisers say a newly installed Surf Lifesaving radio link has been operating intermittently raising safety concerns while competitors are at sea.

Spokesman, Commodore Rod Herrod, says urgent action is needed.

“The race organisers at sea have had some trouble raising anybody when there has been an emergency so I guess the answer is there are still some holes in the communication network that need to be patched up,” he said.

“The race organisers will be talking to the Surf Lifesaving movement and I guess the emergency services people regarding how efficient that system is working.”

Surfboat crews will leave Tathra this morning on the 27km row to Pambula.